Self-propelled boat

ABSTRACT

A self-propelled boat which utilizes a fin mounted on the lower end of an angularly moving, pivotally mounted shaft. The upper end of the shaft is connected with a cross piece which is engaged at its opposite ends by the feet of a boat occupant. The shaft is pivotally mounted to an upstanding post secured to the boat structure. The lower end of the shaft has a projection which is to be inserted into a standard swim fin and frictionally held thereby. The propelling mechanism can be applied to either a single-hull or twin-hull boat and can be positioned to propel the boat in either the fore or aft direction.

Gross [451 Dec. 24, 1974 SELF-PROPELLED BOAT [76] Inventor: William J.Gross, 29105 Indian VaIley Rd., Palos Verdes Peninsula,

Calif. 90274 [22] Filed: July 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 273,380

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 35,321, May 7,1970, Pat. No.

[52] U.S. Cl 115/28 R [51] Int. Cl B63h l/36 [58] Field of Search115/25, 26, 26.3, 28, 21, 115/22.2, 30, 31; 9/3( 9 29 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,925,912 9/1933 Strout 115/28 2,062,54612/1936 Wells r 115/21 2,668,513 2/1954 Reynolds 115/29 2,779,077 l/l957Kline 9/309 3,139,061 6/1964 Johnston 115/25 3,426,722 2/1969 Dragich 115/222 3,529,565 9/1970 Iglesias ll5/22.2

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,169,929 1 1959 France [15/26 OTHERPUBLICATIONS Popular Science, Pedals to Troll Boat, June 1955, page 151.

Primary Examiner-Duane A. Reger Assistant Examiner-Galen L. BarefootAttorney, Agent, or FirmR0bert E. Geauque [5 7] ABSTRACT anism can. beapplied to either a single-hull or twinhull boat and-can be positionedto propel the boat in either the fore or aft direction.

I 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SELF-PROPELLED BOAT This application is adivision of patent application Ser. No. 035,321, filed May 7, 1970, nowUS. Pat. No. 3,695,211 entitled Self-Propelled Boat by the presentinventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Numerous self-propelled boats have utilizedangularly movable, flexible fins to manually propel the boat. Otherself-propelled boats have utilized a manually operated water wheel orpropeller. In all such boats, either a chain drive or a complicatedmechanical linkage has been utilized to power the propelling device,whether it be a fin, a water wheel or a propeller. Also, complicatedattachments have been utilized to attach the propelling mechanism to thestructure of the boat and consume unnecessary space in the boat. In thecase of chain drives connected to feet-operated sprockets, specialbearings must be provided for the moving parts of the propellingmechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to aself-propelled boat which can have either a single hull or a pluralityof hulls, The propelling mechanism comprises an angularly movable shaftwhich extends from the occupant portion of the boat downwardly into thewater. One end of the shaft is pivotally mounted to an upright postwhich is secured to the boat structure and the other end of the shaftmounts a propelling fin. A cross piece is attached to one end of theshaft and the ends of the cross piece are positioned to be engaged bythe feet of an occupant of the boat. A seat for an occupant is locatedso that he can be in position to move the cross piece angularly backandforth with his feet. The other end of the shaft has a projectioninsertable into the opening in a standard swim fin. It is therefore anobject of the invention to provide amanually operated boat having apropelling mechanism which is adaptableto various types of boats andwhich propels a boat by angular movement produced by the feet of anoccupant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing in more detailthe propelling mechanism of this invention.

' DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the single hullembodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, boat 80 has cross members 81, 82, and 83which are normally provided to seat the occupants. A frame 84 comprisesspaced longitudinal members 85 and 86 connected by end pieces 87 and 88.The frame is secured to cross members 81 and 82 in any suitable manner,such as by screws 89. A seat 90 can be adjustably attached in anysuitable manner to the frame 84 as by a bolt 86 passing through a plate87. The propelling mechanism 90' comprises an upright cylindrical post91 which is welded to a plate 92 extending between frame members 85 and86. The plate contains an opening for receiving a sleeve insert 93. Thetop of the post is closed by a plate 94 containing an opening forreceiving a sleeve insert 95. The propelling shaft 98 mounts upper andlower flange plates 99 and 100 having openings 99a and 100a which can belocated in alignment with the openings in sleeve inserts 95 and 93. Allthe openings receive pivot pin 101 which pivotally mounts the shaft 98for angular movement.

The end 102 of the shaft 98 mounts a horizontal, transverse cross piece104 which has pads 105 at its opposite ends to be engaged by the feet ofthe occupant located in seat 90. The end 102 of shaft 98 connects with asubstantially horizontal shaft section 103 which extends rearwardly overthe transom 108 of the boat and connects with the'downwardly extendingshaft end 109 terminating below the surface of the water. The

lower end 109 of the shaft mounts U-shaped tube 106 which extendstransversely from the shaft into the opening in a swim fin 107. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the boat can be propelled in the forwarddirection by the occupant who sits facing in the aft direction andpropels the boat by alternate foot movement, causing the fin 107 to movefrom one side to the other, as illustrated in the phantom line positionsof FIG. 2. This propelling mechanism and seat position are particularlysuitable for trolling; since the speed of the boat can be greatlyreduced, there is no noise of a motor to disturb the fish and both ofthe occupants hands are free to operate his fishing equipment. I

With the propelling shaft 98 in the full line position of FIG. 2 and theoccupant seated upon the seat 90, the feet of the occupant-can be placedupon the pads 105 and moved alternately back and forth to cause theshaft 98 to pivot angularly about the pin 101 into the dotted linepositions illustrated in FIG. 2, thereby moving the fin 107 between itsphanthom line positions shown in FIG. 2. The swim fin 107 can beflexible and the end of the fin will bend in a direction opposite tothat of its angular movement as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2.Movement of the fin 107 will propel the boat forwardly at a speeddepending on the rate of angular movement of the shaft 98. Also, theboat can be steered by the occupant while reciprocating the shaft withthe feet while the center position of fin reciprocation is angularlypositioned with respect to the axis of the boat. Therefore, it is notnecessary to have a separate rudder in order to steer the boat.

It is apparent that the propelling mechanism of the present inventioncan be applied to various types of boat constructions and that suitablesupports can firmly tie the propulsion mechanism to the boat structure.The invention is particularly suitable for small lakes and pools whereboat speed is not of primary importance. The propelling mechanismprovides an excellent means for exercise of the occupant. Because of thesimplicity and compactness of the propelling mechanism, it can bedisassembled and carried separately from the boat so that it can beapplied to different boats.-

What is claimed is:

l. A mechanism for a self-propelled boat comprising:

a propelling mechanism and an occupants seat;

frame means for supporting said propelling mechamsm;

an upright support means attached to said frame means;

I to said horizontal shaft section. 2. A mechanism fora self-propelledboat comprising:

said propelling mechanism comprising a propulsion shaft carrying a crossmember at one end and a propulsion fin at its other end, said propulsionfin being entirely constructed of a flexible material having memory toreturn to a straight configuration 5 when at rest;

pivotal mounting means for pivotally supporting said shaft on saidupright support means;

foot engaging areas at opposite ends of said cross member for angularmovement of said propulsion shaft by the occupant seated in said seat inorder to move said fin angularly through the water and propel the boat;

said ends of said propulsion shaft are connected toface;

said propulsion fin having a cavity; and said connecting meanscomprising-a pro ection, said projection extending into said cavity, theelongated axis of said projection being substantially parallel apropelling mechanism and an occupants seat; v frame means for supportingsaid propelling mechanism;

an upright support means attached to said frame means;

said propelling mechanism comprising a propulsion a pivotal mountingmeans for pivotally supporting said shaft on said upright support means;

foot engaging areas at opposite ends of said cross member for angularmovement of said propulsion shaft by the occupant seated in said seat inorder to move said fin angularly through the water and propel the boat;'45

said ends of said propulsion shaft are connected together by asubstantially horizontal shaft section, said one end extending downwardto connect with said upright support means and said other end extendingdownward and including connecting means for connecting with said finbelow the water surface;

4 the elongated axis of said projection being substan tially parallel tosaid horizontal shaft section.

3. In combination with a boat, said boat having a hull to resthorizontally within water, the occupant seat structure located withinsaid boat and secured to said hull, said seat structure facing the sternof said boat, a propelling mechanism comprising:

an upright support means located within said boat and fixed relative tosaid hull;

a shaft connected to rotate about a rotation axis to said uprightsupport means, said rotation axis being parallel to and displaced fromthe axis of said shaft adjacent said upright support means, said shaftincluding an elongated body extending from said upright support meansand terminating in a connection means, an entirely flexible propulsionfin connected by said connecting means to said shaft, said body beingsubstantially U-shaped with one end thereof -to extend downward toconnect with the said upright support means and the other end extendingdownward to locate said fin below the water surface; substantiallyhorizontal cross member secured to said shaft and located adjacent saidupright support means, foot engaging areas at opposite ends of saidcross member for angular movement of said propulsion shaft by theoccupant seated in said seat in order to move said fin angularly throughthe water to propel the boat. 4. The combination as defined with claim 3wherein:

said'elongated body of said shaft includes a substantially horizontalelongated section which forms the apex of the U-shaped configuration,said horizontal section permits extension of said body beyond thetransom of said boat to have said connection means extend downward tolocate said fin below the water surface.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein:

said fin having a cavity, said connection means includes a projectionwhich extends into said cavity and is in frictional engagemnt with saidfin, the longitudinal axis of said projection being substantiallyparallel to said horizontal elongated section of said body of saidshaft.

6. The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein:

a frame means located within said boat is secured to said hull, saidoccupant seat and said upright support means each being directly securedto said frame means, said frame means comprises longitudinal supportmeans which is located substantially in alignment with the axis of saidhull, said seat being adjustably attached to said longitudinal supportmeans for positioning therealong.

1. A mechanism for a self-propelled boat comprising: a propellingmechanism and an occupant''s seat; frame means for supporting saidpropelling mechanism; an upright support means attached to said framemeans; said propelling mechanism comprising a propulsion shaft carryinga cross member at one end and a propulsion fin at its other end, saidpropulsion fin being entirely constructed of a flexible material havingmemory to return to a straight configuration when at rest; pivotalmounting means for pivotally supporting said shaft on said uprightsupport means; foot engaging areas at opposite ends of said cross memberfor angular movement of said propulsion shaft by the occupant seated insaid seat in order to move said fin angularly through the water andpropel the boat; said ends of said propulsion shaft are connectedtogether by a substantially horizontal shaft section, said one endextending downward to connect with said upright support means and saidother end extending downward and including connecting means forconnecting with said fin below the water surface; said propulsion finhaving a cavity; and said connecting means comprising a projection, saidprojection extending into said cavity, the elongated axis of saidprojection being substantially parallel to said horizontal shaftsection.
 2. A mechanism for a self-propelled boat comprising: apropelling mechanism and an occupant''s seat; frame means for supportingsaid propelling mechanism; an upright support means attached to saidframe means; said propelling mechanism comprising a propulsion shaftcarrying a cross member at one end and a propulsion fin at its otherend, said propulsion fin being entirely constructed of a flexiblematerial having memory to return to a straight configuration when atrest; a pivotal mounting means for pivotally supporting said shaft onsaid upright support means; foot engaging areas at opposite ends of saidcross member for angular movement of said propulsion shaft by theoccupant seated in said seat in order to move said fin angularly throughthe water and propel the boat; said ends of said propulsion shaft areconnected together by a substantially horizontal shaft section, said oneend extending downward to connect with said upright support means andsaid other end extending downward and including connecting means forconnecting with said fin below the water surface; said propulsion finhaving a cavity; and said connecting means comprising a projection, saidprojection extending into said cavity and frictionally engaging the wallportions of said cavity, the elongated axis of said projection beingsubstantially parallel to said horizontal shaft section.
 3. Incombination with a boat, said boat having a hull to rest horizontallywithin water, the occupant seat structure located within said boat andsecured to said hull, said seat structure facing the stern of said boat,a propelling mechanism comprising: an upright support means locatedwithin said boat and fixed relative to said hull; a shaft connected torotate about a rotation axis to said upright support means, saidrotation axis being parallel to and displaced from the axis of saidshaft adjacent said upright support means, said shaft including anelongated body extending from said upright support means and terminatingin a connection means, an entirely flexible propulsion fin connected bysaid connecting means to said shaft, said body being substantiallyU-shaped with one end thereof to extend downward to connect with thesaid upright support means and the other end extending downward tolocate said fin below the water surface; a substantially horizontalcross member secured to said shaft and located adjacent said uprightsupport means, foot engaging areas at opposite ends of said cross memberfor angular movement of said propulsion shaft by the occupant seated insaid seat in order to move said fin angularly through the water topropel the boat.
 4. The combination as defined with claim 3 wherein:said elongated body of said shaft includes a substantially horizontalelongated section which forms the apex of the U-shaped configuration,said horizontal section permits extension of said body beyond thetransom of said boat to have said connection means extend downwaRd tolocate said fin below the water surface.
 5. The combination as definedin claim 4 wherein: said fin having a cavity, said connection meansincludes a projection which extends into said cavity and is infrictional engagemnt with said fin, the longitudinal axis of saidprojection being substantially parallel to said horizontal elongatedsection of said body of said shaft.
 6. The combination as defined inclaim 5 wherein: a frame means located within said boat is secured tosaid hull, said occupant seat and said upright support means each beingdirectly secured to said frame means, said frame means compriseslongitudinal support means which is located substantially in alignmentwith the axis of said hull, said seat being adjustably attached to saidlongitudinal support means for positioning therealong.